LOS ANGELES, May 12 (UPI) -- Former U.S. first lady Laura Bush says she supports gay marriage and women's right to choose abortion.
In an appearance on CNN's "The Larry King Show" Tuesday to promote her book "Spoken from the Heart," Bush said she and her husband, former President George W. Bush, disagree on those two seminal issues, though they respect each other's opinions.
The former first lady said gay marriage was a hot-button issue during the 2004 presidential campaign.
"I think there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman," she said. "But I also know that, you know, when couples are committed to each other and love each other, that they ought to have I think the same sort of rights that everyone has."
She said she thinks gay marriage "will come" in time.
Bush also said she thinks Roe vs. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, should stand, a position she staked in a TV interview on the day her husband was inaugurated in 2000.
"And I think it's important that it (abortion) remain legal because I think it's important for people, for medical reasons and other reasons," she said.
She said she and her husband don't argue over the issues.
"I understand his viewpoint. And he understands mine," she said.
